October 4, 1957

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It was a Cold War propaganda machine, launched for reasons of pride, territoriality, greed, and a passel of other human failings, but it also separated all of history into Pre Space Age and Post Space Age.

No one thought the Soviet Union could do it, but on October 4, 1957 at 19:28:34 UT, they launched Sputnik, the very first artificial satellite into Earth orbit. The shock of this -- Red Star in Orbit! -- motivated the Space Race, and in just 12 years put men on the Moon.

Don't forget astronomy! Oh no, don't you dare forget that: Hubble, Chandra, Spitzer, SOHO, Swift, Uhuru, Einstein, COBE, WMAP... these all revolutionized our understanding of the Universe, in more ways than can be easily recounted, and they're all satellites.

I am still amazed that most folks don't know that they can easily see satellites on any clear night. Got to Heavens Above. Enter your coordinates. Then find out when the ISS passes overhead, or a rocket booster, or Hubble. Please, go look for Iridium satellites! They'll rock your world.

In the mean time, read up on the little

basketball beachball-sized doohickey that changed the world, and humanity, forever.